English Dictionary: lessening | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for lessening | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Lessen \Less"en\ (l[ecr]s"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lessened} (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lessening}.] [From {Less}, a.] To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune. Charity . . . shall lessen his punishment. --Calamy. St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it. --Atterbury. Syn: To diminish; reduce; abate; decrease; lower; impair; weaken; degrade. |